ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Jiang Zaidong hosted a reception here on Monday to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of his country, which was attended by a large number of dignitaries, including Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani who graced the occasion as chief guest.
The event, attended by political leaders, civil and military officials, diplomats, and members of Islamabad’s elite, reflected the deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and China. On the occasion, Ambassador Jiang expressed gratitude to the government and people of Pakistan for their warm sentiments and unwavering support towards China.
The envoy, who had recently accompanied President Asif Ali Zardari on his visit to Beijing, highlighted China’s rapid progress under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, saying Beijing was undertaking new reforms and initiatives across multiple sectors. He reaffirmed that Pakistan was China’s “brotherly country” and stressed Beijing’s readiness to work more vigorously with Islamabad for common development, enhanced trade, and stronger security cooperation.
Ambassador Jiang underlined that China and Pakistan share an “iron-clad friendship” rooted in trust, history, and shared values, which has only grown stronger with time. He noted that both countries were committed to implementing the recently announced “Action Plan to Foster an Even Closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era.”
He outlined five key areas of cooperation, including:
advancing high-level political trust,
strengthening win-win economic and trade partnerships under the upgraded CPEC,
prioritizing people-centered livelihood projects,
enhancing joint counter-terrorism and security cooperation, and
safeguarding international fairness and justice through multilateralism.
“Together, we will continue to build a community with a shared future that benefits our peoples and contributes to regional and global peace,” Ambassador Jiang stated.
Speaking on the occasion, Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani lauded China’s remarkable development under President Xi’s leadership and paid tribute to Beijing’s consistent support to Pakistan, particularly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“Pakistan and China are iron brothers. Our All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership continues to grow from strength to strength,” Gilani remarked. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to work closely with China across all spheres — from regional connectivity and economic cooperation to people-to-people exchanges.
The Senate Chairman stressed that CPEC, as the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was a shared vision to address socio-economic challenges and ensure common prosperity. He praised the exemplary coordination between Pakistani and Chinese missions at multilateral forums and reaffirmed Islamabad’s steadfast commitment to the partnership, calling it a “pillar of regional stability and peace.”
The reception concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony, reflecting the festive spirit of the occasion and the enduring strength of Pakistan-China relations.